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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

HB 88 is a terrible bill. We do not leverage the health and wellbeing of children and mothers to make political points. It was bad enough knowing that one of our elected officials would sponsor such a hateful bill. Knowing that 7 were willing to move it out of committee makes me physically sick.

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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Slams laptop shut. Til January 5!

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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Reads news. Immediately makes donation to DNC.

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Ben Winslow @benwinslow.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

INBOX: The Utah State Bar has a lot of problems with bills the legislature is running dealing with the judiciary. Their statement... #utpol

SALT LAKE CITY, February 19, 2025 – The Utah State Bar Commission understands that attorneys, regardless of political persuasion, care about the separation of powers in our government. Therefore, the Bar is holding firm on its opposition to legislation that jeopardizes judicial independence enshrined in the state constitution. Two recent bills are particularly troubling because they establish a system under which judges will be made to answer to the legislature based on any disagreement with a judge’s ruling.

Specifically, House Bill 512 creates a new committee — a Joint Legislative Committee on Judicial Performance to shadow, and potentially override the work of the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC). This bill sponsored by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee is unnecessary given the excellent and transparent work that JPEC is already doing and given that JPEC was created by the Legislature and contains members nominated by leadership from the Legislature, the Governor, and the Chief Justice. The concern expressed by many licensees and our Government Relations Committee is this new entity comprised only of legislators—will inject politics into the current merit-based and nonpartisan judicial evaluation and retention process.

As part of its evaluation, the Committee can request a judge’s disciplinary record from the Judicial Conduct Commission and may investigate “any issue raised by a member of the committee, the Legislature, or a member of the public.” (See H.B. 512, lines 1457-1459.) This broad mandate means that any issue, even a disagreement with a judge’s legal ruling, could trigger an evaluation, regardless of whether there is credible evidence of judicial misconduct or incompetence.

In the evaluation process, the Committee would be required to issue a public news release naming the judge, describing the nature of the review, and soliciting comments from Utah legislators and the public. (See lines 1466-1474.) The Committee would then hold a meeting to di…

The process is demeaning and of questionable constitutionality. Requiring a judge to answer to a legislative body goes against the core principle of our constitution – a judiciary that can make decisions based on the facts and law without fear of being pilloried in public or removed from the bench.

HB 512 combined with House Bill 412 work to ensure that the proposed new legislative committee will be a partisan body. HB 412 removes the requirement that no more than half of the appointed members on JPEC and the Elected Official and Judicial Compensation Committee be from the same political party. This bill co-sponsored by Rep. Jefferson Burton and Sen. Calvin Musselman would permit members of governing boards and commissions to all be from the same party, removing the long-standing nature of non-partisanship on these boards. We appreciate the efforts of Sen. Brady Brammer, who modified SB 204. The Bar now has a neutral position. However, we remain concerned with SJR 009 sponsored by Sen. Brammer that dictates the timing to obtain an injunction in a trial court. This resolution is inconsistent with SB 204 by giving only 28 days to enjoin an unconstitutional injunction. We are working with Sen. Brammer to address these issues.

Bills the Bar has opposed are listed below:

SB 203 – Judicial Standing Amendments-First Substitute – Oppose
SB 204 – Suspensive Appeal Amendments-First Substitute – The Bar takes no position on the substitute.
SB 154 – Legislative Audit Amendments-Amended – Oppose
SJR 004 – Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules on Attorney Confidentiality – Oppose
HB 451 – Judicial Election Amendments – Oppose
HB 412 – Boards and Commissions Revisions-Substitute – Oppose
HB 512 – Judicial Retention Changes – Oppose
SJR 009 – Joint Resolution Amending the Rules of Civil Procedure – Oppose

We are grateful for the open dialogue and consideration of lawmakers with the Bar’s opposition to proposed legislation. We are committed to continuing to work collaboratively…

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Tracy M @dandelionmama.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

I wish folks understood how incredibly difficult it is and how super-qualified you have to be to get one of those government positions and that “probationary” just means you’re a new-hire for 24 months. These fired folks are some of the best qualified public servants we had & were the future.

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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Ended up just buying an atlas published in 2024 so I’ll have proof of the world the way it was before we were living in the upside down.

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Ben Winslow @benwinslow.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Rep. Hollins' bill on when Juneteenth is observed passes a House committee UNANIMOUSLY: le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/... #utpol #Utah

le.utah.gov

HB0370

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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

3am insomnia retail therapy is probably not the best way to start out my week. At least I’m shopping small?

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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Gas prices already up 10 cents/gallon here and the tariffs are not even in effect yet. Sadly, this is pretty much the least worst thing that’s happened this week.

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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

My two cents: You don’t need a new year or a new you. We are of value and worth in this very moment. And we get a new day every 24 hours to make of it what we will. 💙💙

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Dalene @compulsivewriter.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Some sweet kids are outside my front door caroling all 13 verses of The 12 Days of Christmas to my husband (a beloved 3rd grade teacher for over 30 years) already this morning and I’m here for it. Nothing but respect for that kind of perseverance.💙😂

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Keepapitchinin @keepapitchinin.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Tomorrow (Wednesday), the statue of Martha Hughes Cannon will be unveiled in the US Capitol Rotunda, as one of Utah's two representative citizens. It's been a long time coming.

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Ben Winslow @benwinslow.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

The Society of Professional Journalists says the PRESS Act could be up for a vote this week (info on it below) as they urge people to call their senators to push for its passage. Utah Sen. Mike Lee has said he SUPPORTS the proposed law: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_mF... #utpol #Utah

youtube.com

The PRESS Act: What it is, and why it's important to get it passed

YouTube video by Society of Professional Journalists

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NPR @npr.org · 23/11/2024

A heart cockle shell has been found to let in light through a design that resembles fiber optic cables. This could inspire everything from helping coral survive to designing new camera lenses.

npr.org

What a mollusc shell and fiber optic cables have in common

A heart cockle shell has been found to let in light through a design that resembles fiber optic cables. This could inspire everything from helping coral survive to designing new camera lenses.

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